Helicopter helps, but not enough to play ball

Friday

Jul 12, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 12, 2013 at 6:03 PM

Breeze from a helicopter wasn’t enough to allow the Burlington Royals to play baseball Friday.

The team hired a helicopter service to aid in drying the saturated outfield at Burlington Athletic Stadium, where another postponement created additional disruptions in the team’s Appalachian League season.

“It was helping,” team general manager Ben Abzug said. “It made a significant difference. There were some areas out there that just (weren’t improving enough). It was our hope to play. I can’t blame them (for not playing).”

Except for four innings Wednesday night, the entire three-game series with the Bluefield Blue Jays was wiped out. The games will be made up next week in West Virginia.

The Royals are scheduled to start a three-game series with the Kingsport Mets tonight — if the field dries out.

League president Lee Landers was on hand to assess the situation.

“It’s too many spots,” he said of the outfield’s condition before leaving to attend a game in Danville, Va. “Trying to find a game to go to.”

Heli-Xpress, which is based out of Twin Lakes Airport in Advance, spent two hours hovering above the outfield. The team paid an undisclosed amount for the service.

According to the Heli-Xpress website, the service charges $520 per hour. Abzug said the team received a slight discount.

The helicopter — with assistant general manager Ryan Keur in the passenger seat — was in action in the early afternoon. Some fans looked on as well as players from both teams.

“There was so much water,” Royals pitcher Torey Deshazier said. “I recorded a little bit of it so I could show my parents.”

The helicopter action at least provided a form of entertainment for a team thirsting to play games.

“For (this day), it was (our excitement),” Burlington first baseman Sam Bates said. “You don’t see that every day. I took some pictures and posted them.”

Bluefield infielder Tim Locastro said: “The first time I’ve seen anything like that. Everyone was taking pictures and videos.”

The Burlington team has been postponed on five of its first scheduled 12 openings so far, a big financial a hit for the local team.

Royals manager Tommy Shield praised the front office’s efforts to find a remedy. While it didn’t rain during the day Friday (and most of Thursday afternoon and evening were rain-free), the drenched outfield didn’t recover enough.

Team interns worked with cups in spots Thursday to rescue the field.

“It’s like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic,” Shields said.

Abzug said the helicopter’s impact firmed up many mushy areas of the outfield. Without sun, other areas couldn’t be salvaged in time, he said.

“It’s so many spots of mud,” said Scott Sharp, director of player development for the Kansas City Royals. “If it was one spot, maybe we could work around it.”

Sharp arrived Friday, a couple of days later than his initial schedule because of the projections of inclement weather here.